Basal Plasma Oxytocin & Fecal Cortisol Concentrations are Highly Heritable and Associated with Individual Differences in Behavior & Cognition in Dog Puppies
Gnanadesikan, G.E., Bray, E.E., Cook, E.N., Levy, K.M., Douglas, L.E.L.C., Kennedy, B.S., Tecot, S.R., & MacLean, E.L. (2024). Basal Plasma Oxytocin & Fecal Cortisol Concentrations are Highly Heritable and Associated with Individual Differences in Behavior & Cognition in Dog Puppies. Hormones and Behavior, 165, 105612. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105612.
Photo credit: Hormones and Behavior
Characterizing Dog Cognitive Aging Using Spontaneous Problem-Solving Measures: Development of a Battery of Tests from The Dog Aging Project
Hargrave, S.H., Bray, E.E., McGrath, S., Alexander, G.E., Block, T.A., Chao, N., Darvas, M., Douglas, L.E.L.C., Galante, J., Kennedy, B.S., Kusick, B., Moreno, J.A., Promislow, D.E.L., Raichlen, D.A., Switzer, L.R., Tees, L., Underwood Aguilar, M., Urfer, S.R., Dog Aging Project Consortium, & MacLean, E.L. (2024). Characterizing Dog Cognitive Aging Using Spontaneous Problem-Solving Measures: Development of a Battery of Tests from The Dog Aging Project. GeroScience. doi: 10.1007/s11357-024-01278-x.
Photo credit: Emily Bray
Transposons in the Williams-Beuren Syndrome critical region are associated with social behavior in assistance dogs
Gnanadesikan, G.E., Tandon, D., Bray, E.E., Tennanbaum, S., MacLean, E.L., & vonHoldt, B.M. (2023). Transposons in the Williams-Beuren Syndrome critical region are associated with social behavior in assistance dogs. Behavior Genetics. doi: 10.1007/s10519-023-10166-7.
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ManyDogs 1: A multi-lab replication study of dogs’ pointing comprehension
ManyDogs Project, Espinosa, J., Stevens, J.R., Alberghina, D., Alway, H.E., Barela, J.D., Bogese, M., Bray, E.E., …Zylberfuden, S.G. (2023). ManyDogs 1: A multi-lab replication study of dogs’ pointing comprehension. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 10(3), 232-286. doi: 10.2641/abc.10.03.03.2023.
Photo credit: ManyDogs Project
ManyDogs Project: A Big Team Science Approach to Investigating Canine Behavior and Cognition
ManyDogs Project, Alberghina, D., Bray, E.E., Buchsbaum, D., Byosiere, S.E., Espinosa, J., Gnanadesikan, G.E., Guran, A., Hare, E., Horschler, D.J., Huber, L., Kuhlmeier, V.A., MacLean, E.L., Pelgrim, M.H., Perez, B., Ravid-Schurr, D., Rothkoff, L., Sexton, C.L., Silver, Z.A., & Stevens, J.R. (2023). ManyDogs Project: A Big Team Science Approach to Investigating Canine Behavior and Cognition. Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews, 18, 59-77. doi:10.3819/CCBR.2023.180004.
Photo credit: ManyDogs Project
Salomons, H., Smith, K., Callahan-Beckel, M., Callahan, M., Levy, K., Kennedy, B., Bray, E.E., Gnanadesikan, G., Horschler, D., Gruen, M., Jingzhi, T., White, vonHoldt, B., MacLean, E. & Hare, B. (2023). Response to Hansen Wheat et al.: Additional analysis further supports the early emergence of cooperative communication in dogs compared to wolves raised with more human exposure. Learning & Behavior. doi: 10.3758/s13420-023-00576-2.
Photo credit: Emily Bray
Associations between physical activity and cognitive dysfunction in older companion dogs: Results from the Dog Aging Project (linked to preprint)
Bray, E.E., Raichlen, D.A., Forsyth, K., Promislow, D.E.L., Alexander, G.E., MacLean, E.L., & Dog Aging Project Consortium (2023). Associations between physical activity and cognitive dysfunction in older companion dogs: Results from the Dog Aging Project. GeroScience, 45, 645-661. doi: 10.1007/s11357-022-00655-8.
Photo credit: Emily Bray
Once-daily feeding is associated with better health in companion dogs: Results from the Dog Aging Project (linked to preprint)
Bray, E.E., Zheng, Z., Tolbert, M.K., McCoy, B., Dog Aging Project Consortium, Kaeberlein, M., & Kerr, K.F. (2022). Once-daily feeding is associated with better health in companion dogs: Results from the Dog Aging Project. GeroScience, 44, 1779-1790. doi: 10.1007/s11357-022-00575-7.
Photo credit: Dog Aging Project
Horschler, D.J., Bray, E.E., Gnanadesikan, G.E., Byrne, M., Levy, K.M., Kennedy, B.S., & MacLean, E.L. (2022). Dogs re-engage human partners when joint social play is interrupted: A behavioral signature of shared intentionality? Animal Behaviour, 183, 159-168. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.11.007.
Photo credit: Canine Companions
Working Dog Training for the Twenty-First Century
Hall, N.J., Johnston, A.M., Bray, E.E., Otto, C.M., MacLean, E.L., & Udell, M.A.R. (2021). Working Dog Training for the Twenty-First Century. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8:646022. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.646022
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Early-emerging and highly heritable sensitivity to human communication in dogs
Bray, E.E., Gnanadesikan, G.E., Horschler, D.J., Levy, K.M., Kennedy, B.S., Famula, T.R., & MacLean, E.L. (2021). Early-emerging and highly heritable sensitivity to human communication in dogs. Current Biology, 31(14), 3132-3136. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.04.055
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Cooperative communication with humans evolved to emerge early in domestic dogs
Salomons, H., Smith, K., Callahan-Beckel, M., Callahan, M., Levy, K., Kennedy, B., Bray, E., Gnanadesikan, G., Horschler, D., Gruen, M., Tan, J., White, P., MacLean, E., & Hare, B. (2021). Cooperative communication with humans evolved to emerge early in domestic dogs. Current Biology, 31(14), 3137-3144. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.051
Photo credit: Gita Gnanadesikan
Enhancing the selection and performance of working dogs
Bray, E.E., Otto, C.M., Udell, M.A.R., Hall, N.J., Jonston, A.M., & MacLean, E.L. (2021). Enhancing the selection and performance of working dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8:644431. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.644431.
Photo credit: Kerinne Levy
Dog cognitive development: a longitudinal study across the first 2 years of life
Bray, E.E., Gruen, M.E., Gnanadesikan, G.E., Horschler, D.J., Levy, K.M., Kennedy, B.S., Hare, B.A., & MacLean, E.L. (2021). Dog cognitive development: a longitudinal study across the first 2 years of life. Animal Cognition, 24, 311-328. doi: 10.1007/s10071-020-01443-7.
Photo credit: Canine Companions
Cognitive characteristics of 8- to 10-week-old assistance dog puppies
Bray, E.E., Gruen, M.E., Gnanadesikan, G.E., Horschler, D.J., Levy, K.M., Kennedy, B.S., Hare, B.A., & MacLean, E.L. (2020). Cognitive characteristics of 8- to 10-week-old assistance dog puppies. Animal Behaviour, 166, 193-206. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.05.019.
Photo credit: Laura Douglas
Evidence for win-stay-lose-shift in puppies and adult dogs
Byrne, M., Bray, E.E., MacLean, E.L., & Johnston, A.M. (2020). Evidence for win-stay-lose-shift in puppies and adult dogs. Proceedings of the Cognitive Science Society.
Photo credit: Kerinne Levy
Bray, E.E., Levy, K.M., Kennedy, B.S, Duffy, D.L., Serpell, J.A., & MacLean, E.L. (2019). Predictive Models of Assistance Dog Training Outcomes Using the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire and a Standardized Temperament Evaluation. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6:49. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00049.
Photo credit: Evan MacLean
Effects of maternal investment, temperament, and cognition on guide dog success
Bray, E.E., Sammel, M.D., Cheney, D.L, Serpell, J.A., & Seyfarth, R.M. (2017). Effects of maternal investment, temperament, and cognition on guide dog success. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(34), 9128-9133. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1704303114.
Photo credit: The Seeing Eye
Temperament and problem solving in a population of adolescent guide dogs
Bray, E.E., Sammel, M.D., Seyfarth, R.M., Serpell, J.A., & Cheney, D.L. (2017). Temperament and problem solving in a population of adolescent guide dogs. Animal Cognition, 20(5), 923-939. doi: 10.1007/s10071-017-1112-8.
Photo credit: The Seeing Eye
Characterizing early maternal style in a population of guide dogs
Bray, E.E., Sammel, M.D., Cheney, D.L, Serpell, J.A., & Seyfarth, R.M. (2017). Characterizing early maternal style in a population of guide dogs. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 175. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00175.
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Increasing arousal enhances inhibitory control in calm but not excitable dogs
Bray, E.E., MacLean, E.L., & Hare, B.A. (2015). Increasing arousal enhances inhibitory control in calm but not excitable dogs. Animal Cognition, 18(6), 1317-1329. doi: 10.1007/s10071-015-0901-1.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnstone
MacLean, E. L., Hare, B., Nunn, C. L., Addessi, E., Amici, F., Anderson, R. C., Aureli, F., Baker, J. M., Bania, A. E., Barnard, A. M., Boogert, N. J., Brannon, E. M., Bray, E. E., … Zentall, T. R., & Zhao, Y. (2014). The Evolution of Self-Control. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111(20), E2140-E2148. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1323533111.
Photo credit: Jingzhi Tan
Context specificity of inhibitory control in dogs
Bray, E.E., MacLean, E. L., & Hare, B.A. (2014). Context specificity of inhibitory control in dogs. Animal Cognition, 17(1), 15-31. doi: 10.1007/s10071-013-0633-z.
Photo credit: Duke Canine Cognition Center
